- Day 1: Arrival in Lhassa, tsf to city (3650m/60km). Hotel in Lhasa
You will be warmly welcome by our Tibetan guide and driver and accompany you to the holy city of Lhasa along with the view of Bharmaputra, known as YarlungTsangpo in Tibetan and a giant stone carved Buddha with more than a thousand years history.
- Day 2: Lhasa sightseeing: Potala, Jokang temple and Bharkor. Hotel in Lhasa
Sightseeing Potala Palace, winter Palace of the Dalai Lama, Jokang temple, the oldest and most sacred temple of Tibet, Bharkor, the ancient market of Lhasa and the most oldest and sacred pilgrimage path in Lhasa.
- Day 3: Lhasa sightseeing: Drepung& Sera monasteries. Hotel in Lhasa
Sightseeing Drepung monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet and one of the six biggest monasteries of Gelukpa sect in Tibetan Bhuddhism. Sera monastery, the scond largest monastery of Tibet and it is very interesting to watch the monks debating in the monastery.
- Day 4: Drive to Shigatse (3900m/280km): Hotel in Shigatse
Start your tour after breakfast and drive along the Lhasa river and Bharmaputra river. You will enjoy many beautiful Tibetan villages who are all farmers. The distance from Lhasa to Shigatse is 280Km and it will take you around 5hrs as there is a strict speed control on the way. The road condition is very good nowadays. Visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery, the seat of the Penchen Lama and the biggest monastery in The Tsang region.
- Day 5: Drive Shigatse-Phuntsokling monastery-Sangsang (4520m/300km) Guest house on BB
You will start your tour at around 9.0Am from Shigatse and drive to Sangsang through some beautiful Tibetan villages and visit Jonang Phuntsoling monastery on the way. Jonang Phuntsoling was formerly the stronghold of the Jonangpa school, which since the 17th century has been confined to remote areas of Dzamthang and Ngawa in southern Amdo, following the closure of their mother monastery and it’s transformation into a Gelukpa establishment. Drive through old Lhatse town with Lhatse Chode and Gayadhara Lhakang. Lhartse Choede is a Gelukpa monastery. Formerly, there were 1,000 monks in this institution, which dates originally to the 13th century. The assembly hall contains some 17th century murals, and restoration work is continuing. Behind monastery on a hill are the ruins of the old Lhartse Dzong, and to the east is old Lhatse village which has 450 households.
Below the ruined fortress is the Gayadhara Lhakang, which was built around the cave hermitage of Drokmi Lotsawa (993-1050) and his contemporary, the Kashmiri Pandita Gayadhara. These figures were the teachers of Khon Konchok Gyelpo who founded the original Gorum temple at Sakya in 1073, giving birth to the Sakyapa school.
Have lunch in Lhatse county and then continue Kailash northern route journey to Sangsang.
- Day 6: Drive Sangsang-Raga-Tsochen (4650m/332km) Hotel on BB
Heading west into the vast grassland and nomad camps on the Kailash southern route until you reach Raga. Heading north into the Jangthang Plateau from Raga on a long Kailash northern route adventure tour is started and some parts of the road is paved and some are not. Down the slope to the right of the road at this point, there is a large geothermal area , known as Tagyel Chutsen or Tagyel hot spring. If the water table is high enough geysers spout for the every few minutes or so. One shoots steaming water over 15 m high. At one time it is said that there were over 100 geysers here, and there is a small renovated bath house. The road skirts a small lake and then passes along the full length of Lake Takyel-tso (4590m), which is teeming with fish.
Snaking its way north up long valleys, the road crosses over two main passes. The first of which is the watershed (5280m). The scond pass (4890m) leads on to the Jangthang Plateau, offering a vista of ever-changing scenery. Snow capped peaks, among them Mount Sanglung (6174m) rise far to the west.
Continue your Kailash northern route adventure tour to Tsochen county with many more small lakes including the lake Gyesar-tso, lake Lungkar-tsom, lake Kering-tso and two rivers including Yutra Tsangpo and Tsochen Tsangpo.
After around 8 hours drive, you will reach Tsochen county on the northern route to Mount Kailash, located at Mendong on the banks of the Tsochen Tsangpo river, situated near the northwest corner of the large lake Tashi Namtso. The entire county is a nomadic region.
- Day 7: Drive Tsochen-Dawa Tso-Gertse - (Oma) Tarab Tso-Tsaka-Gegye
(4450m/645km) Hotel on BB
Continuing on the northern route to Mount Kailash from Tsochen, you cross Norchung la pass (4590m), after 43km, and reach the shore of the wide lake Dawa-tso, around which are clusters of nomad tents. This is a traditional grazing land for herds of Yaks, goats and sheep. After driving along the northeast shoreline, the road climbs through a narrow valley ( 4830m) to emerge on the lush marshy plain of Dawazhung. Here there is an abundance of wildlife. Wild geese, storks and many other types of waterfowl share the area with Yak and gazelles as well as the occasional lammergeyer.
The road crosses the high 5000m Nogorla pass and drive into a vast salt plain and another lake Dungtso(4400m) with a landscape of snow-peaked mountain range. The town of Lumaringpo, capital of Gertse county bordering Drongpa in the south, Gegye in the west, and Kunlun mountains in the north.
The northern route to Mount Kailash runs northwest from Lumaringpo, passing Oma township after 90km. Lake Tarabtso lies beyond, on the border of Gertse and Gegye counties and climbs steadily for 94km to Tsaka where there are big salt fields. Reaching Gegye county on the northern route to Mount Kailash extends from lake Tarab-tso, on the edge of the Jangthang Plateau, as far as Drongpa and Napuk in the upper Indus valley.
- Day 8: Gegye-Senge Tsangpo ( Ngari prefecture or Ali ) (4280m/112km) Hotel in Senge Tsangpo
The northern route to Mount Kailash continues following the upper Indus valley through Jangpa village (70km beyond Gegye )and on to Senge Khabab (42km from Jangpa ), which is by far the largest town in the entire region. The traditional capital of the Ngari region was Gartok, a nomadic encampment 49km distance in the Gar Tsangpo valley.
Senge Tsangpo county, formerly known as Gar, straddles the confluences of the Indus River and two of its tributaries: the Langchu Tsangpo, which converges at the town of Senge Khabab ( Shiquanhe in Chinese ) and the Gar Tsangpo, which converges sought of Tashigang. Senge Khabab which is both the prefectural and county capital.
- Day 9: Drive Senge Tsangpo-Namru-Longala pass (5160m)-Dungkar (4250m/139km) Lodge in Dungkar and Peyang on BB
After having a great night and rest in Senge Tsangpo, the northern route to Mount Kailash continues to the further south, the highway passes through Namru after 23km, where there is an important turn off leading to Tholing, 144km distant, in the upper Sutlej valley. Namru was formerly the seat of the Namru Chieftain (Namru Pon), a rank initially conferred on Hor Dodrak, chieftain of the Hor troups who migrated from Namru near Lake Namtso, after being mustered by the Mongolian governor Ganden Tsewang in 1679. Continuing along the Gar Tsangpo valley on the paved highway, you will soon reach Gar Years, the ancient summer capital of the Ngari viceroy, and Sogto village. Crossing Longala pass which is 5160m above sea level and 41km before reaching Tholing, there is a turn-off on the right that leads west for 13km to Dungkar where spectacular caves have recently been discovered.
- Day 10: Morning visit Dungkar & Peyang and afternoon, drive to Tholing (3650m/54km) Hotel in Tholing
After breakfast, explore Dungkar and Peyang and afternoon drive to Tholing at the distance of 54km.
DUNGKAR PIYANG has around 1100 ye ars history and the murals in the cave are possibly the oldest in Ngari region. The oldest temple at Dungkar is attributed to Princess Lhei Metok, daughter of King Yeshe-O in the 10 th century, but the building that is most prominent nowadays is Tashi Choling. Tashi Choling was built for Tsongkapa's student Ngawang Drakpa in the 15 th century. Piyang is around 3Km from Dungkar at the far end of the valley. The oldest building in Piyang was the Karsak Lhakhang, attributed to King Yeshe-O. Both Dungkar and Piyang have extremely gorgeous paintings. Afternoon, drive to Dharchen and prepare for the three days Kailash trek.
- Day 11: Tholing- Guge Kingdom, 20Km , Visit Guge Kingdom- Tholing, Visit Tholing monastery. Hotel in Tholing
Morning, drive to Guge Kingdom which is just 20km to the west of Tholing or Tsamda county.
GUGE KINGDOM was founded in the late 10th century by lineages of Lang Dharma, King Palkor Tsen's son Kyede Nyima Gon after the Tsenpo period was diminished in the late 10 th century and it was resided by 16 lineages of the Kings respectively. The citadel of Guge is situated up on a giant cliff and it has (300Meters) in height and 18,0000 square Meters in length. Eventhough the citadel of Guge was heavily destroyed, it still remains important Buddhist arts in Tsaparang. The wall paintings and the statues paint were influenced by Kashmiri style in 11 th century, Newari style in 14 th and 15th century, and Tibetan style in 17 th century respectively. The least damaged temples now are White, Red and Demchok temples and you can see damaged heads or shoulders of the statues and destroyed wall paintings on the wall in those temples.
The Tholing complex originally comprised six major buildings. The most impressive building at Tholing is at the western focal point of the entire complex. The wall remains of King Yeshe-O’s Mandala chapel are unlike any seen elsewhere in Tibet.
- Day 12: Tholing to Tirthapuri, 43300mts, 240Km. Lodge in Tirthapuri. Guest house in Tirthapuri
Kailash northern route adventure tour turns to the east site and drive to Tirthapuri. There you will enjoy a bath in the geothermal hot spring and visit Zhangzhung or Kunglung Guru Gyam.
- Day 13: Drive Tirtahpuri to Dharchen (4660m/60km) Hotel in Dharchen
Morning, drive to Dharchen was formerly an important sheep station for the nomads and their flocks. Dharchen gradually transformed into a town where all the Kailash tour groups stay over night for the preparation for their up-coming three day Mount Kailash trekking. From Dharchen, you will have a great view of twin lakes of Mansarovar (4590m) and Rakshas Tal (4584m), shared respectively like the sun and moon, and which which are said to have associations respectively with the forces of light and dark. Further south, just on the edge of the Tibetan plateau and near the Himalayas is another snow-capped peak Mount Nemo Nanyi ( Gurlamandata 7728m) which is one of the highest inside Tibet. Its three peaks and four ridges form a Swastika, an ancient symbol of the infinity of the universe.
- Day 14: Dahrchen trek to Dhiraphuk (5210Mts/18Km) camp or Lodge
Today is the first day of your KailashKora which is totally around 53Km . You start your Kora from Darchen and after like 2 hrs walk, you will face DarpoChe where there is a huge prayer flag pole which is annually replaced by the pilgrimages on 15 th of forth Lunar month, known as Saga Dawa festival, As well as Trulku monastery on your leftside up on the hill side. You can also see ibex and blue sheep running in the rocky hillside while you are walking and then you will reach DhiraPhuk which was a monastery before but nowadays you can only see the ruins of the monastery as the monastery was destroyed in the cultural revolution.
- Day 15: Trek to Zutrulphuk(4810m) via crossing Drolma la pass(5636m/15KM) Camp or Lodge
Today is the second of your KailashKora which is indeed the hardest day of your three days trek. You will have to climb up to the top of Drolma La pass which is more than 5000Mt. There will be three sloppy hike to get to the top of Drolma La pass from DhiraPhuk and then pretty steep down hill with rocky path all the way to the valley. On the right side of the down hill path, there is a small lake called Thuje Lake, meaning compassionate lake.ZutrulPhuk was the cave where Mila Repa and NagroBonchung debated for their religion sects and nowadays, it is a small monastery.
- Day 16: Trek to Dharchen and then drive to Mansarovar ((4590Mts/50Km) Guest house in Mansarovar on BB
Today is the easiest and last day of your Kailashkora as you will trek down in the valley with beautiful distant scenery of Rakshas Tal lake .From here you will depart your Yak men and kind Yak and shift to jeeps. You will meet your drivers and continue your tour to Lake Mansarovar. Rest and free afternoon around the lake.
- Day 17: Mansarovar-Drongpa-Saga, 4640Mts/435Km Mansarovar hotel on BB
It's in the vastness of the Changtang, Tibetan plateau, that we measure the Tibetan space from where suddenly emerge herds of gazelles or Kyang, wild donkeys.
- Day 18: Drive Saga-Shigatse (3900Mts/ 440KM )Mansarovar Hotel on B.B
Drive along the Tibetan nomad camps on the vast grassland in the western Tibetan high plateau, beautiful Himalayan mountain range, Tibetan farmers with their beautiful Tibetan traditional houses.
- Day 19: Visit Shigatse and then drive to Gyantse (3950m/90km) Hotel in Gyantse
Morning, visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery which is dedicated to the tomb stupa of the successive of the Penchen Lama and a giant Bronze made statue of Maitreya or the future Buddha. After lunch, drive to Gyantse which is just one hour and thirty minutes drive from Shigatse. Visit Palchoe monastery and Kubum Pagoda stupa in Gyantse and walk in the old town of Gyantse.
- Day 20: Gyantse to Lhasa (3650m/260km) Hotel in Lhasa
After breakfast, drive towards Lhasa, crossing the first mountain pass called Simila and a lovely view of Simila lake, a great view of Mount Noejing Kangsang from road side. You will stopped at Karola glacier for photos. Drive along the Yamdrok lake and a fantastic Panoramic view of Yamdrok lake and Mount Noejing Kangsang from the top of Kampala pass which is the last high mountain pass for you entire Kailash journey. Drive down through many zigzag road and view the Barhmaputra river valley, you will finally reach holy Lhasa with a great Potala Palace.
- Day 21: Lhasa sightseeing: Potala, Jokang temple and Bharkor. Hotel in Lhasa
Sightseeing Potala Palace, winter Palace of the Dalai Lama, Jokang temple, the oldest and most sacred temple of Tibet, Bharkor, the ancient market of Lhasa and the most oldest and sacred pilgrimage path in Lhasa.
- Day 22: Lhasa sightseeing: Drepung& Sera monasteries. Hotel in Lhasa
Sightseeing Drepung monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet and one of the six biggest monasteries of Gelukpa sect in Tibetan Bhuddhism. Sera monastery, the scond largest monastery of Tibet and it is very interesting to watch the monks debating in the monastery.
- Day 23: Drive to Lhasa Airport (3600m/45km)
Drive to Lhasa airport and on the way enjoy the beautiful Tibetan farmers and their beautiful Tibetan traditional houses in the Kyichu valley. Arrival in Lhasa airport and say good bye to your Tibetan friends and wish you a safe journey back home.